What's that?
That?
A fire arrow.
A fire arrow?
Yes, it burns as it flies.
And if it hits, the flames spread.
It uses naphtha,
and it's effective for wide-area attacks.
What's wrong?
What is a war?
Why does it happen?
Why does it not end?
That's a difficult question.
I wonder why...
Chapter 6
—Welcome back, Hero! —Yeah, Old Man. I'm back!
A war is a type of large-scale conflict.
And conflicts occur when two separate forces collide.
Still no movement, apparently.
No,
nothing unusual.
Um...
We've been here for two weeks.
Has it been that long?
How long will we be staying?
We don't know, either.
But I'd guess we're preparing a surprise attack.
A surprise attack?
Two children meet.
"That child isn't me."
"I'm not them."
Conflict arises when you meet a different individual.
But wars don't happen just because you meet someone.
You could greet or help them, be friends, play...
That's true.
So conflict is a part of those wonderful things.
At their core, they're all the same.
But...
According to what I've learned, it's true.
I don't want to believe that.
Neither do I.
War is one form of conflict, but not all conflict is war.
The village boys competing to give flowers
to a pretty girl are engaged in conflict.
And conflict is a type of relationship,
but not all relationships are conflicts.
There are friendly relationships and supportive relationships.
Then why is there war?
Moving to the next level is necessary.
It sounds contradictory, but it seems possible to me.
Just as no one is ever born an adult.
Ma'aam,
we're ready to goo!
Don't extend your vowels.
That's right.
And don't run.
Where are you going, ma'am?
Here.
Is that where you'll meet the Hero?
Well, the Hero is... Hmm, how to put it...
I guess you could say he's beyond this point.
Again!
The Dead Knight has been here, as well!
It's a curse!
Save us!
Who's there?
So this is humanity's strongest force, the Holy Crusade?
His head!
The Dead Knight!
Save us.
Cowards.
You're awesome, Black Knight!
They're just wimps.
That's pretty spooky, though.
Fairies create the best illusions!
Keep scaring the heck out of them with illusions.
Okay.
Nightmare Thrush, you here?
By your side.
Open a dream channel into the Crusade's HQ.
Terrify them with bad dreams nightly.
As you wish.
No movement yet, huh?
It gets exhausting.
For you, too, General?
Don't call me "General."
It's only temporary.
Does it weigh on your nonexistent chest?
Want me to kill you?
No!
Damn it...
Stupid demons...
Commander.
What is it?
The Dead Knight again!
Kill him!
Use the whole army if necessary.
But...
Our commanders.
What?
Many of them so fear the demons, they're requesting to go home.
Halt them with wine and money!
If that doesn't work, round up some demon girls!
But the slaves at HQ are already...
Steal as many as you want from town!
That's why I didn't want this job!
Why did I get stuck here,
in the middle of nowhere, with these beastly demons?
Pardon.
The Crimson Scholar has arrived.
She's here?
The genius scholar I've heard so much of?
What's she doing at the battlefield?
You want to win, right?
That's why I'm here.
Hold it right there!
He sensed her demonic aura?
May I examine your lovely chest more closely?
A pleasure to meet you.
I am King of the Winter Country.
I am called the Crimson Scholar.
I'm sorry I haven't been able to thank you personally
for what you've done for my country.
It's nothing.
By the way, King,
why the need to retake Bright Light Island now?
To take back our pride.
If we take back that island, several trade routes will open.
Then we'll no longer need to be slaves to the Central Nations' companies.
I'm glad to hear that.
Then my gift should be of use to you.
Okay.
Split into groups, and pour sea water into the places where they meet.
Keep an eye on your surroundings,
and slingers, an eye on the sky!
After the sea water, the salt!
If you mean to win, I thought this might help.
I've prepared six carts of salt.
What?
That's three times the amount we'd secured.
What do you ask for in exchange?
Time.
A full day before we engage.
In other words, you expect us to do nothing for a whole day?
I have a plan.
I don't want victory.
So I want to handle those things not brought by victory.
What?
The humans did what?
Fools.
They cannot beat us at sea.
Well...
They're fighting on land, not at sea!
Our first target is the coast!
Slingers, at the fore!
Keep an eye on the water and sky.
If you see any water demons, fall back while you attack,
and await reinforcements!
Volunteer forces are to guard the sleds and our supplies.
We'll reach the coast, and create a beachhead on Bright Light Island,
and then secure our supply lines.
Okay, we've landed!
Push them!
Squad 3, forward!
A giant squid has emerged in the sea, to our rear right!
If we can defend this place, reinforcements will arrive!
Stay strong!
For the kingdom!
For the Winter King!
Victory for our Princess General!
Behind our left flank!
A thousand beast-like demons!
Heavy infantry, group 4!
Push them back! Don't let them advance!
Ready spears!
Charge!
Anyone!
Is anyone here?
Dispatch messengers every twenty minutes, to keep lines of communication open.
Yes, ma'am.
We have our beachhead.
We've taken out the demons' second line of defenses.
How many casualties on our side?
Approximately five hundred.
What?
That's a huge success.
But that's as far as our luck goes.
The rest of the island is covered in natural caves.
And the castle at its center is an impenetrable fortress.
And inside is the Ice General, fiercest of the demons.
He'll try to make us lay siege.
How many forces do they have left?
Approximately eight thousand.
I'm told it takes three times the number of defenders
to force a siege's conclusion.
We have twelve thousand soldiers.
Not even twice, let alone thrice.
Normally, this would be a long, drawn-out battle, but...
You have a plan?
What is it?
Reporting!
A huge army has appeared
farther to the south, beyond the island, near the Demon Realm.
What?
How many?
Over ten thousand!
The demons have sent reinforcements?
No.
This is my plan.
That force is comprised of Gate City's soldiers.
I didn't expect them to just up and leave.
I suppose with him as their leader, I can understand.
You're running, Commander?
Um, well...
This is...
I know.
Reinforcements!
We will send all our forces to reinforce Bright Light Island.
Are you insane?
This city has many civilians
who are here to help with our supplies!
What about them?
They're traitors.
They're befriending the demons!
Let them die.
You bastard.
You...
I what?
I know...
You're the Commander now.
I'm putting you in command.
If you want to protect them, you can protect this town.
It's much quieter.
You're still here?
Well, I'm your aide.
What now?
We have no choice.
We go begging to the influential demons.
We don't have the troops, so we haven't a choice.
We establish an emergency government.
As of today, this is no longer human territory,
but a city where demons and humans meet.
The demons are withdrawing from their fortress!
About 7,500 of them!
That's all of them.
The demons are charging the gate, which our reinforcements hold.
They didn't want us to reach them.
This is their last chance to break though.
If our reinforcements are the Crusade of the Holy Key,
they're the best equipped the human world has to offer.
Who's there?
What's going on?
The strongest in the human world?
You're...
I dunno about that.
They weren't what I expected.
Hero!
Hero?
Hi.
Welcome back, Hero!
Hey, Knight, get off me!
Well...
Anyway, did this work?
I did everything I could
to delay and lose them, so the timing would work.
They're pretty exhausted.
Then, perhaps the battle will be even.
What?
A large demon heads this way.
He calls himself the Ice General!
He wiped out a whole platoon of light infantry!
Have everyone withdraw!
Yes Ma'am!
I'd hoped to let the demons escape without sustaining heavy damage.
You can't...
He has faith in something.
I'll go kick him around a bit.
No.
That's my job.
A warrior's last request.
As a general, I'd like to fulfill it.
Retreat.
I shall be your opponent!
I'm glad you accepted my challenge.
I'd never pass on a fight I can win!
Taste my ultimate technique!
Too slow!
That didn't seem so "ultimate" to me.
Your last chance to retreat!
I won't accept the enemy's pity.
Take this! Freezing Blizzard!
Hero's Technique:
Rock Wall Reflector!
Not bad.
With one as overpowered as he is around, you learn a few things.
But it's time to end this.
For the first time, we agree.
What?
What splendid swordsmanship...
We won!
We won the battle!
It's too early to rejoice.
Clean up the remaining enemies.
Search the island!
It's over.
People of my kingdom, I am grateful for your efforts.
Bright Light Island is ours!
It will not be easy to defend,
and we'll have much to rebuild.
But as Winter King, I swear to treat you well!
Tonight is a banquet.
Enjoy yourselves!
Cheers!
Now, then...
Listen with a drink in hand.
I wish to offer honorary titles to the two who enabled this victory.
These two!
It's been a long time.
Oh, Old Man.
Please proceed to the hall.
My King would like to properly greet you.
It's fine.
I said hello already.
Hero...
You are too strong.
If you wished, you could fight an army of thousands.
Yeah.
That's why I couldn't abandon you.
No normal human could accept your strength.
Your strength isolates you from humanity.
You left so that we wouldn't have to bear that isolation, right?
But you're human, too.
And we also left you alone.
That's not true.
I'm sorry for making you feel alone.
Not at all.
You taught me all sorts of things.
Boobs, butts...
And how to tell boobs apart!
Fake boobs usually mean a burly guy!
Since we parted, I've been making some efforts of my own.
Can you hear that laughter?
You see the lights down there?
Yes.
A lovely country.
This country will not make you suffer your punishment alone.
I'm sure that you won't be isolated here.
Yeah.
Welcome back, Hero!
Yeah, Old Man.
I'm back!
Next Chapter
—I'll be back soon, We'll see each other soon.